# Any idea what this is? (A Hindu ritual plate) **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 25, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513 "2015-11-25T05:12:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/1 "2015-11-25T05:12:33Z")
I went to an Indian (Gujarati) wedding last weekend and got this as a wedding favor. I don’t know what this is or how it’s supposed to be used. Could one of the Teeming Millions please tell me? [http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/24/e6f4be69bcf7b7471610fc721e59a9af.jpg](http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/24/e6f4be69bcf7b7471610fc721e59a9af.jpg) [http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/24/c7e358e9790d11c1c9e15550de446544.jpg](http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/11/24/c7e358e9790d11c1c9e15550de446544.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 8:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/2 "2015-11-25T08:46:32Z")
It’s obviously a Hindu ritual plate. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 10:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/3 "2015-11-25T10:16:54Z")
A puja thali. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/4 "2015-11-25T11:56:23Z")
Thanks, guys. I was kind of hoping for some more detail, here. What are the different objects on the plate, and what are they used for? In what situation or situations would the plate be used, and how would it be used? Assume I’m woefully ignorant and go from there. ---
**Author:** ![MickNickMaggies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/59ef9b/32.png) [@MickNickMaggies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MickNickMaggies)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/5 "2015-11-25T12:07:23Z")
Not a Hindu here, but it’s my understanding that it’s a setup for worshipping/making offerings to the gods, and your usual home setup would include an image of who you’re offering to. As for the things on your plate, from what I can tell in your second picture and starting with the upper left and moving clockwise, you’ve got an incense holder (sticks), a box for kumkum powder, a candle holder and a water container. Here’s a link for the significance, though you may want to wait for someone who knows more. [http://credo.ysgolccc.org.uk/arteffactau/puja.htm](http://credo.ysgolccc.org.uk/arteffactau/puja.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b487fb/32.png) [@Walken\_After\_Midnight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walken_After_Midnight)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/6 "2015-11-25T12:44:20Z")
Yes, it’s a _puja_ tray for religious ritual performed usually twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. The one with the holes is for incense sticks, the one with the lid is for _kumkuma_ powder (markings applied to the forehead), the star-shaped one is an _aarti_ lamp (for ghee butter or oil such as sesame or groundnut oil, with the wicks protruding from the star points) and the dish is likely for purifying holy water or perhaps offerings such as such as rice, flowers or fruit. Missing is a depiction of the deity (statue/figurine or picture) and a bell to summon or notify the deity at the start of the ritual. ---
**Author:** ![Scribble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scribble/32/3317_2.png) [@Scribble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scribble)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2015, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/any-idea-what-this-is-a-hindu-ritual-plate/738513/7 "2015-11-25T18:22:27Z")
Thanks for the info! I appreciate your fighting my ignorance. 🙂